ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

On September 1, 2010, Section 11.1 the Alberta Human Rights Act came into force.

The section requires Calgary Board of Education to notify parents where "courses of study, educational programs or instructional materials, or instruction or exercises include subject matter that deals primarily and explicitly with religion, human sexuality, or sexual orientation.”

On written request from a parent or guardian, a teacher is required to exclude a student from a teaching situation that deals primarily and explicitly with one of these topics. It is important to note that Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act does not apply to incidental or indirect references to religion, human sexuality or sexual orientation. As required, school principals will be providing parents with notification, including how to exempt their children from the subject matter described above.

Parents who have questions about the requirements or how the school is handling certain subject matter dealing with religion, human sexuality and sexual orientation should contact the principal of their child's school.